My Event Ratings

Overall score		20%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		20%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		20%
Organisation		20%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Way too ambitious
In full: I like a professionally run event, but this took 'corporate' to cringeworthy levels. Enjoyed Pendulum, but Moby was dissappointing and the chav-tastic MC was a waste of space. The international theme was an ambitious idea but, coupled with some of the videos shown ahead of the race, came off rather patronising.
Getting soaked due to delays at the start was not fun.
As for the course, I can barely think of a less inspiring part of London to run around.
Nike technical tops (and vouchers for free Starbucks smoothies at registration) were the positives, somewhat tempered by the lack of a medal.
Nike could easily do better, and weren't helped by the weather, but I have serious doubts that I'll give this another chance.
Date of review: October 24, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		100%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Gets better every year; fantastic race!
In full: This was my fourth Swansea Bay 10k in five years, and as I run other 10k's and half marathons around the country I am struck by how good the Swansea event really is:

- beautiful scenary;
- great atmosphere;
- professional organisation;
- unrivalled crowds, and great support from local authorities. This race begins at lunchtime, a more pleasent time to run in late September. Another advantage of the late start is the large number of supporters that line the route.
- Earlier junior races promote an all-inclusive atmosphere.
- Good medal and goodie bag.
- Great PB potential.

The only downside in 08 was the long queue for goodie bags - organisers please try to think of a way to mitigate next year (maybe distribute the bags on each side of the runners).

Fab.
Date of review: October 24, 2008

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		60%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Nothing special
In full: The course was a little tight and uninspiring in places, but much of this may have been due to last-minute reorganisation to avoid the barrage. The grass and 'grasscrete' section at the end of the race was a negative.
Good quality medal, but I didn't get a towel in my goodie bag.
Lack of coordinated chip collecting at the end of the race, but received my time via text message within 30 minutes of the finish.
Crowds were a little sparse in places, and quiet, although likely to have had a lot to do with the 9am start time.
I may do this race again, particularly if the route is more inspiring in future years.
Date of review: October 24, 2008

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